Results 3,821-3,840 of 4,382 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Programmes (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: European Innovation Partnership projects (EIPs) were introduced under Ireland’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the 2014-2022 Rural Development Programme (RDP), and have been continued under the co-operation measure of the CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027. EIPs seek to address agricultural challenges by providing support to Operational Groups (OGs) comprised of a range of actors...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am acutely aware of the complexity that has grown over the years in relation to farming. I have been, and continue to be, an advocate for simplification at the Council of Agriculture Ministers. This is both to ensure that the rules associated with farm payments can be applied in a practical way that recognises the realities of farming life and also the challenges for member states...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Veterinary Services (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The most recent figures from Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) in their recently published Workforce Report indicates 3,564 registered veterinary practitioners veterinarians and 1,265 registered veterinary nurses in Ireland. 68.2% of registered veterinary practitioners were employed in clinical practice of whom 35.5% were working in mixed practices with 12.5% working in Farm Animal only...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Last month, I led an inward visit to the United States in conjunction with Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland which included meetings in Washington DC, Kentucky and Chicago. This visit was successful and timely as it gave a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of the two-way trading relationship between Ireland and the United States. I was also able to highlight Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Data (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Green Cert programme is accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), the national agency responsible for validating education programmes in Ireland leading to QQI awards. It is delivered by public and private providers from across the further education system. My Department does not collate statistics on the number of persons who obtain the Green Cert. The Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Bovine TB is a challenging disease to control and eradicate. In recent years, bTB levels have continued to deteriorate, herd incidence has increased from 4.94% in 2023 to 6.04% in 2024. As of 11th May 2025, over a 12-month period we had a herd incidence of 6.30% with over 42,200 reactors. This disease is having an impact on our farmers and their families emotionally and financially...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Prices (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: As Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have no role in setting or controlling prices for any market commodity at either farm gate or retail level. Market prices for beef and other commodities are a commercial matter between suppliers and buyers which I have no role in determining.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department administers a wide array of measures and schemes aimed at promoting a viable, resilient and sustainable drystock sector. These supports consist of annual exchequer-funded and multi-annual EU co-funded schemes specifically tailored to the needs of farmers engaged in beef, sheep, dairy beef and mixed enterprises. In addition, there are many other supports, such as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: I am very conscious that the additional tariff rate of 10% on all imports to the US, in place since 9 April, directly impacts on the competitiveness of Irish agri-food exports on the US market. It makes Irish food and drink products more expensive for US consumers, who I have seen at first hand really value our premium Irish products. However, the 90 day pause on the US side in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Programme for Government commits to review and update the National TB 2030 Eradication Strategy by working in collaboration with farmers and industry. At the February meeting of the TB Forum it was agreed that all stakeholders would provide proposals on new measures for inclusion in the TB programme aimed at reducing TB levels in cattle against the backdrop of surging disease levels....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. RCÉ has informed my Department that between 1st January...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: ACRES is the flagship environmental scheme provided under the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan, with €1.5 billion in Exchequer and EU funding allocated over the course of the scheme. Payments in respect of farmers' participation in the ACRES Scheme continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases pass all required validation checks. Last week, I announced that Balancing payments in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: From 1 January 2025, Ireland is operating a system of social conditionality, as required in EU CAP Regulations and Ireland's approved CAP Strategic Plan. The system operates using cross-reporting and will not involve on-farm inspections by my Department. Competent Authorities responsible for the legislation namely the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Health and Safety Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The new Programme for Government prioritises “supporting inter-generational farm succession”. Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the agri-food sector, states that generational renewal in farming is critically important to ensure the future viability and social sustainability of the Irish agri-food sector and of rural Ireland. Demographic challenges for the agricultural...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Planning Issues (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: This year Ireland will implement significant changes to its planning laws through the Planning and Development Act 2024, which was signed into law by the President of Ireland on 17 October 2024. In the meantime, all aspects of planning continue to be covered by: revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/2000/act/30/revised/en/html, as amended. The Department of Housing is leading on any changes to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Supports (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: It is one of my priorities is to ensure adequate availability and access to long-term investment finance for farmers, including young farmers. My Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Finance and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) to provide access to finance supports to small and medium businesses (SMEs) in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: At the February meeting of the TB Forum it was agreed that all stakeholders would provide proposals on new measures for inclusion in the TB programme aimed at reducing TB levels in cattle against the backdrop of surging disease levels. At the TB Forum on 26th March all stakeholders were provided the opportunity to present proposals on draft measures to be incorporated into the TB programme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) scheme is a measure available under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3). The practice of low emission slurry spreading is an important, environmentally sustainable, activity that will facilitate Ireland meeting its environmental commitments through reductions in ammonia and other reactive nitrogen emissions from soil. It also...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: At the February meeting of the TB Forum it was agreed that all stakeholders would provide proposals on new measures for inclusion in the TB programme aimed at reducing TB levels in cattle against the backdrop of surging disease levels. At the TB Forum on 26th March all stakeholders were provided the opportunity to present proposals on draft measures to be incorporated into the TB programme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Diseases (20 May 2025)

Martin Heydon: Ireland's bovine TB Eradication Programme is guided by national and international scientific research and advice. A large body of peer-reviewed research has been conducted into the spread of TB in Ireland and the risks underlying its transmission. This research has found that the principal causes of TB introduction and spread include: movement of cattle with undetected infection residual...